Malignant Rumors: Audi RS7 Sportback with 580HP V10 Coming to Paris?

The Mercedes CLS-fighting A7 Sportback from Audi, previewed by 2009's Sportback Concept (seen in these pictures), is going to be debuting in Paris later this year.

Rumors coming from Britain indicate that instead of the "hurry up and wait a couple years" strategy that usually surrounds RS models, Audi's 'quattro' division will be releasing its RS7 side-by-side with the standard A7.

Power is said to be sourced from a non-turbo version of Audi's 5.2 liter V10 putting out as much as 580-horsepower and hooked to a 7-Speed DSG transmission.

With the RS7 Sportback, Audi is looking to have a direct competitor for the upcoming CLS63 (and possibly BMW's Gran Coupe-based 8-Series) in its stable.

The only issue here is that quattro builds one model at a time; with the RS5 having just debuted, this RS7 making an appearance may just be a bunch of hopes and dreams. Regardless, there's no doubt that it WILL happen. One day.

So, now that everyone is starting to play in the high-performance four-door coupe sandbox, let the nicely-tailored form-over-function wars begin!

By Phil Alex

Via: Autoblog.com

Audi Sportback Concept: Sporty Sedan with Lambo Inspired Buttocks Leaked

There goes Audi's surprise premiere; the first official photos of the firm's Detroit Show Sportback concept have been leaked into the internet. The first thing that caught our attention on Audi's concept study is without doubt the Sportback's rear-end and the similarities it shares with the Lamborghini Estoque saloon that was unveiled at last year's Paris Show.

There's no official info on the car yet, but our sources state that the Sportback Concept will find its way into production as the A7 by mid-2010. And yes, it will be based on the A6 using the same powertrains, including the 3.0 TFSI turbocharged V6 and the RS6's twin-turbo 5.0-lter V10. Click through to see the leaked photos and tell us your initial thoughts.

Source: Fortitude , Via: Jalopnik

2010 Audi A7 4door-Coupe Scooped

It may look like an unsuccessful attempt to recreate a character from the “Cars” movie, but the cover-camouflaged vehicle you’re seeing in these spy pictures from Autobild magazine is the forthcoming Audi A7. The A7 is described as a four-door coupe, or to put it simple, a more aggressively designed but less practical and spacious sedan with a low-slung roof-line.

Expected to be introduced in a major car show in 2009 with sales following in 2010, the A7 will be based on the A6 platform and it will be offered with a wide variety of engines including Audi’s new 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 petrol unit. The A7 will compete against the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the forthcoming BMW 8-Series (or 9-Series) four-door coupe based on the CS Concept.

Via: Autobild

Audi A7 Rendering

Finishing off its trio of, allegedly official Audi sketches (see the A1 here and the R8 Spider here), Car Online took off the wraps on the A7, a 4door-coupe model aiming at the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The Brits support that the A7 will be previewed by a concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show with a production version following in at the 2009 Frankfurt International motor Show. If Car's sources are correct, then the A7 will most probably be based on the A6 platform using the same 3.2 V6 and 4.2 V8 FSI petrol units and 2.7 and 3.0 V6 TDI diesel units along with the Lamborghini Gallardo derived, 5.0 V10 powerhouse for the top spec S7/RS7 version.

Via: Car